Enjoying North America while earning a living...

I kept a day by day journal the first 5 years I was enjoying North America. While earning a living,I kept track of where I went, often what I did, feelings I had and various other details. I am writing this blog day by day as I lived it. The month/day I lived it is the same as the month/day I write about it. The years are obviously different...thus the days title: ie: August 30, 1989, 2009.

About Me

My photo
Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.

About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...

I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net


Blog Dictionaries...

The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...

May 14, 2010

May 14, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Stafford, Texas)
Was awake at 3:15 AM CST and couldn't go back to sleep. Wasn't worried about finding my delivery point as I had been there before. Was up and heading for delivery at 4:30 AM CST. Took off up Hwy 59 toward the downtown area of Houston were I caught the I-610 loop and took it to the north side. Got to the receiver a little before 5:30 AM CST and just parked on the street.

I sat in my cab and wrote in my journal and got my logbook caught up. About 6 AM CST some activity was seen at the receiver. I checked in at 6:30 AM CST and was told to back up to the dock; I did. I got out and walked in to watch the unloading. A gal unloaded me and she moved that fork truck pretty fast. I was unloaded by 7:15 AM CST and calling dispatch at 7:30 AM CST. I called the dispatch in Joplin, Missouri and was told to call Red Oak( Dallas, Texas) terminal for dispatch; I did. I was told to deadhead(go empty) to Red Oak Terminal and check in

Wasn't in any hurry so I took side "city" roads to I-45 north. Didn't see anything on the side roads except traffic. Yep, I guess I was watching traffic instead of looking around at things. Took I-45 north and stopped at the rest area outside of Huntsville, Texas. Took a short break and brought two packages of Hostess Snowballs from the junk food machine. Got back to heading north on I-45. Got to I-20 and took it west to I-35E south to Red Oak. Pulled into the terminal around noon and dropped my trailer. Checked in with dispatch and was told I would be here until tomorrow...OH JOY! Just hung around the terminal and talked to the others until the terminal closed. Went out to my tractor, watched TV and went to sleep...

Tomorrow: "Should I or shouldn't I???"
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